Does anyone else struggle making car buying decisons?

[PompeyPaul]

My work means that I need to make positive, instant decisions and I have no problem doing the same at home, including when we move and making financial decisions on houses and I am usually quite impulsive. To date my decisions have not come back to bite me!

For some reason, when it comes to changing car I become unbelievaly indecisive! Does anyone else get like that?

I know I need to just test lots of cars and will hopefully fall for one. The trouble is I don't even have a set style. It will be a daily and around 1,000 miles a month, a close split of maybe 60/40 motorway and towns respectively. Only two of us so rear seats not needed. My back isn't great so discounting Elise and the likes. Want every drive to feel special / an event, which it does in my Totyota Mr2, compared to the other halfs Jag KF.

I have immediate access up to £20,000, but for some reason feel that I need another 10k to get something really special. Cars I have/am considering are:

Mercedes SLK55 AMG
BMW 650i
Jaguar XK
MINI Cooper GP
BMW 135i convertible
RS4 cabriolet
Vauxhall VXR8

Other considerations were Cayman/Boxster, but will be Gen 1 and risk of Bore score.

As you can see - totally random and following no real logic! I have even considered a Crossfire (!!) for the short term until I can fully make my mind up with the idea of minimal depreciation from a relatively low outlay, as my current car is set to die any day and I need to sort something!

Would be looking to keep the next car for around 2 years. Can anyone firmly recommend any of these or why I should totally discount another?

[Sump]

That's a strange list of cars.

I'd look at GT cars, wouldn't entertain women's cars like the SLK or Cooper etc.

[Leins]

Sump said:

That's a strange list of cars.

I'd look at GT cars, wouldn't entertain women's cars like the SLK or Cooper etc.

They are the only two I'd find remotely interesting on that list. I wouldn't entertain "women's cars" either

[EricE]

PompeyPaul said:

My work means that I need to make positive, instant decisions and I have no problem doing the same at home, including when we move and making financial decisions on houses and I am usually quite impulsive. To date my decisions have not come back to bite me!

For some reason, when it comes to changing car I become unbelievaly indecisive! Does anyone else get like that?

Would be looking to keep the next car for around 2 years. Can anyone firmly recommend any of these or why I should totally discount another?

“It is better to execute imperfect decisions than to continuously search for perfect decisions that are never going to exist.”
- Charles de Gaulle

Mind you that's easier said than done, I've had similar trouble deciding on new cars. If you overthink it you'll be stuck with your current car forever.

PS: I'd take the Mini Cooper GP

[Lost soul]

Sump said:

That's a strange list of cars.

I'd look at GT cars, wouldn't entertain women's cars like the SLK or Cooper etc.

[Risotto]

I don't understand why people treat cars like pets - you don't have to keep them for life! If I buy one and subsequently decide it's not for me, I just sell it and get a different one

[anonymous-user]

This for £20k

This for £30k

or you could buy a Mini!....

[PompeyPaul]

EricE said:

“It is better to execute imperfect decisions than to continuously search for perfect decisions that are never going to exist.”
- Charles de Gaulle

Mind you that's easier said than done, I've had similar trouble deciding on new cars. If you overthink it you'll be stuck with your current car forever.

PS: I'd take the Mini Cooper GP

Wise words. Thanks.

[PompeyPaul]

pablo said:

This for £20k

This for £30k

or you could buy a Mini!....

Like the sub £20k option. Al lot. Any persona experience? Can high teens be achieved with daily driving?

Also as a very expensive (when new) car and now being over 10 years old, is there a chance of VERY high repair bills?

[PompeyPaul]

Risotto said:

I don't understand why people treat cars like pets - you don't have to keep them for life! If I buy one and subsequently decide it's not for me, I just sell it and get a different one

That is a very nice way to do things. I wish I did. The reality is with what I'm looking to spend, the lost wouldn't be hurrendous if I was to swap quickly if it wasn't for me.

[PompeyPaul]

Leins said:

They are the only two I'd find remotely interesting on that list. I wouldn't entertain "women's cars" either

Which two?

I assume you are classing the SLK55 AMG as a woman's car?

[GreatGranny]

Sump said:

That's a strange list of cars.

I'd look at GT cars, wouldn't entertain women's cars like the SLK or Cooper etc.

Women's cars :-)

Are you so out of touch?

[nitrodave]

You're not the only one! I'm going through exactly the same thought process. I just moved from rural hertfordshire where i had unlimited off street underground parking to inner city east london where there is a mix of council estates and well to do's.

I had an e46 convertible, a classic mini cooper and a real nice heavily tuned rev3 mr2 turbo. They're all gone now apart from the bmw and I want to get one nice car that I will feel confident leaving on the streets all day long.

My budget is £14k max and my list is as so diverse I just don't know which direction to go in!

Merc slk55
Jaguar XK
Audi S5
Bmw E46 m3
Golf r32 MK5
Audi s3 or s4 v8.

I'm all over the place. I do LOVE the jag xk though... it's the pick of the bunch for me, but I just dread some local toe rag dragging a blade down the side.

[Leins]

PompeyPaul said:

Leins said:

They are the only two I'd find remotely interesting on that list. I wouldn't entertain "women's cars" either

Which two?

I assume you are classing the SLK55 AMG as a woman's car?

NO!!!! Please read what I responded to again:

Leins said:

Sump said:

That's a strange list of cars.

I'd look at GT cars, wouldn't entertain women's cars like the SLK or Cooper etc.

They are the only two I'd find remotely interesting on that list. I wouldn't entertain "women's cars" either

[toon10]

No it's not just you. I'm having real difficulty deciding on my next car and also what type of car. I'm 40 (and in the throws of a mid life crisis.) For years I've wanted a 2 seater sports car. It's only now that my partner lives with me that I can actually realise this dream as she has an XC90 which is superb at the everyday/practical stuff.

In my old age, I've stoped hooning and have become quite boing with my driving habbits (hitting 60mph on dual carriageways and setting cruise control, totally ignoing people cutting me up and not getting into a tit for tat situation, etc.) With that in mind, do I really want a sporty car? Most of my journeys will consist of a small commute and a few A roads.

I want an Elise (but can't live with one as a daily.) OK, so more refinement. A Z4 Coupe. Hmm, well I might need the extra seats on occasions so how about a 135i coupe? OK so what about something with practicality and a bit of fun. A hot hatch then. Ah but I really like comfort and luxury for my 60mph cruises. An XF Jag...

You see my problem, I've gone from looking at Elises to a big Jag!

[Esseesse]

e39 M5 and spend money on servicing and fuel rather than depreciation.

[anonymous-user]

PompeyPaul said:

pablo said:

This for £20k

This for £30k

or you could buy a Mini!....

Like the sub £20k option. Al lot. Any persona experience? Can high teens be achieved with daily driving?

Also as a very expensive (when new) car and now being over 10 years old, is there a chance of VERY high repair bills?

In all honesty, I have no idea, dont own one, probably never will!... but I love the V8 Vantage so much! I'm pretty sure if you are sensible you could get close to 20 mpg from either. Yes they are "old" cars but both have good FSH and at that age, I'd buy based on FSH rather than mileage and spec. A good fist full of invoices would be quite reassuring. I'm sure you dont need telling this but a private sale from an enthusiast who keeps on top of repairs and servicing would be ideal, ie someone who fixes things and completes schedule maintenance rather than waiting for something to go wrong.

The V8 has so much presence, I often see one on Whiteladies Road in Bristol and its just gorgeous in the flesh, short, squat, yet quite subtle considering there are a few 430s and similar that flaot around that area too.

I have a friend with a Maserati 3200 which is very nice, he paid £15k for it a few years ago, its not a daily driver but he doesnt complain about mpg and servicing is what you expect from a specialist, I think he uses a TVR indy for most of teh work.

[SEE YA]

Many years ago now, I always wanted my dream car wife, kids, house, these things come first for most people.

It came a time when I had the money and knew it was now or never for my dream car.

The market was at the bottom IMO at the time, now the value has shot up to more than double.

I cannot see it going down again either to what it was in 07.

I bought the car after looking at many in a long search.

However I was in a position, of would the car be what I thought it was after all this time?

Would it drive like I wanted it to the cost, bills, insurance.

The one thing that made me go ahead, was until I bought it I would never know?

If it was not right just sell it on.

Luckly things worked out well, done LeMans trips and others with my son and family.
I cannot put a price on those times.

Just go for it enjoy the car you want.

[PompeyPaul]

Leins said:

PompeyPaul said:
Leins said:
They are the only two I'd find remotely interesting on that list. I wouldn't entertain "women's cars" either

Which two?

I assume you are classing the SLK55 AMG as a woman's car?
NO!!!! Please read what I responded to again:


Leins said:
Sump said:
That's a strange list of cars.

I'd look at GT cars, wouldn't entertain women's cars like the SLK or Cooper etc.
They are the only two I'd find remotely interesting on that list. I wouldn't entertain "women's cars" either

Sorry misread, my bad

[Wills2]

I had a similar situation:

C7 RS6
F10 M5
911 C2/4S/GTS/Turbo etc...
C63 507 coupe
Maserati GT 4.7
B7 RS4
E63
R8
+ many more...

So estates/coupe/saloon/GT's etc....

In the end I just discounted them on various levels purchase costs/running costs/practicality/performance/looks/equipment/interior/tech/old vs. new etc until I had a decision.